Automatic sewing apparatus



Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ 3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet J WM MawAna/1 Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS 6SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 196'.

INVENTOR. 3 591/054 M 504 472 mhaw Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ AUTOMATICSEWING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21. 1967 INVENTOR. SAMUELM 801.6972 BY FIG. 4

m M ATroa/fi Nov. 4, 1969 s. N. BULGATZ v AUTOMATIC- Sswmc APPARATUSSShets-Sheecl Filed Saint. 21, 1967 FIG. 5

- INVENTOR. 56 /054 M 504 4712 BY mm, m 4m- Nov. 4, 1969 v s. N. BULGATZ3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARA'I'US Filed Sept. 21, 1967 6' Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.IO

INVENTOR. saw/4 M 5 6 72 WM, BM

Nov. 4, 1969 v s. 'N. U GATZ 3,476,063

AUTOMATIC SEWING APPARATUS ?'.'.e:1 Sept. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR- 5444054 4/ 5045072 BY 1/44, M w

'A Tram/6V5 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 112-2 17 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Two sewing machines are slidably mounted in head to head,longitudinal alignment for opposed, reciprocating movement by a cam andcam follower arrangement. The cam is slidably mounted for reciprocatingmovement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line ofmovement of said sewing machines. Each of the sewing machines isprovided with a cam follower positioned in vertical alignment with itsreciprocating needle, the two cam followers tracing identical paths asthey follow separate but identical contoured portions of said cam. Acontrolled source of high pressure air serves to drive the cam and tointermittently engage one-revolution clutches connected to the needledrive shaft of each of the sewing machines. The reciprocating movementof the cam, and the intermittent engagement of the clutches iscontrolled by a microswitch arrangement which includes a plurality ofcontact points mounted on a switch plate connected to said cam forsliding movement therewith. The material to be sewed is held on a platewhich is secured to the cam and slides back and forth with it. Theintermittent engagement of the sewing machine clutches by the aforesaidmicroswitch arrangement as the cam followers reach predetermined, spacedpoints on the moving cam causes the actuation of the sewing machineneedles in such a way as to jump baste stitches in a symmetrical designconforming to the separate, identical, contoured portions of the cam.

The primary objective of this invention is to provide an arrangement ofsewing machines slidably mounted for movement with respect to camsurfaces by means of cam followers secured thereto. My unique machineapparatus is particularly advantageous in performing jump bastingoperations; however, it could also prove useful in sewing regularstitches to conform to any desired pattern.

Among the various applications for which jump baster sewing machineshave been employed in the past is the sewing of shoulder pads betweencovering layers of material. Such operations have been performed in thepast by manually moving the padding and overlying layers of coveringmaterial in the desired zigzag stitch pattern with respect to thereciprocating needle of the jump baster sewing machine. This, of course,is a relatively time consuming and tiring operation requiring a fairlyhigh degree of sewing skill. I have automated this operation by slidablymounting a plurality of sewing machines for movement and intermittentneedle actuation by a cam and cam follower arrangement so as to jumpbaste a desired stitch pattern in a shoulder pad.

In the preferred form of my invention, two sewing machines are slidablymounted in head to head, lengthwise alignment. A cam follower is securedto the movable bed of each of the sewing machines, and a cam platehaving two separate contoured surfaces thereon is mounted for shiftablemovement in an angular direction with respect to the line of movement ofthe sewing machines.

A particularly advantageous feature of this invention lies in theutilization of the moving cam plate to actuate a control mechanism whichserves to intermittently engage clutch means connected to the driveshaft of each of the sewing machines, thereby reciprocating the needlesof thesewing machines at spaced intervals. The shoulder padding materialto be sewn is mounted for movement with the cam plate, and the relativemovement of the shoulder pad material and the sewing machines by meansof the cam and cam follower arrangement causes the desired stitchpattern to be jump basted in place by the intermittent actuation of thesewing machine needles as the cam followers reach predetermined, spacedpoints on the cam surfaces.

As another significant feature of my invention, I employ a single cammember having separate but identical contoured surfaces on the oppositesides thereof, whereby the two sewing machines are made to baste twoidentical stitch patterns in a symmetrical design on a single piece ofshoulder padding material. After basting, the material may be cut inhalf so as to provide two separate shoulder pads of the sameconfiguration and stitch pattern.

The sewing machine clutches and the drive means for the cam plate arepreferably motivated by pneumatic motors. The aforesaid camplate-actuated control mechanism is comprised of a slidably mountedswitch plate having a plurality of contact points thereon, said switchplate being connected to said cam plate for sliding movement therewith.One-way microswitch means are energized at spaced intervals as thecontact points move thereby, the microswitch arrangement serving tointermittently actuate solenoid valves which control the flow ofpressurizing air to the pneumatic motors for the clutches and the movingcam plate.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomereadily apparent as the following description is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the sewing machine apparatus of thisinvention, including the associated control system;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of theslidably mounted sewing machines of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section view taken along line 33 of FIGURE1 showing the slidably mounted switch plate which forms a portion of themachine control system;

FIGURE 4 is a top view showing the mechanism for clamping the workmaterial to a slidably mounted top plate;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation view showing thepneumatic motor apparatus utilized to actuate the clamiping mechanism ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4showing the work material holding clamp;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section view taken along line 7--7 of FIGURE 2showing the sewing machine slide apparatus;

FIGURE 8 is a top view of a shoulder pad stitched together by means ofthe sewing machine apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE is a top view of the cam and cam follower mechanism;

FIGURE 11 is an end view of one of the sewing machines of FIGURE 2showing the clutch engaging mechanism; and

FIGURE 12 is a top view of the material holding top plate.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the sewing machineapparatus of this invention is comprised of two sewing machines 2 and 4slidably mounted on a table 1. The sewing machines are preferably of thelock stitch, oscillating hook type, and are driven by motors 6. Themotor output shafts 7 are drivingly connected to the sewing machinedrive shafts 9 by means of belt 10 secured to pulley wheels 11 and 12.Machines 2 and 4 are supported on table 1 with their longitudinal axes14 in alignment. For reasons pointed out hereinafter, machines 2 and 4are also preferably arranged with their heads 16 facing each other. Itwould also be possible to align the sewing machines with the head of onemachine facing the rear of the next adjacent machine. The two machinesare biased towards the central position in which they are shown inFIGURE 2 by means of a spring 18 shown in FIGURE 1.

The arrangement for sliding machines 2 and 4 along table 1 is bestillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7. The base 20 of each machine is securedto a plate 22 which is supported on a lower, slidably mounted bed bymeans of vertical rods 26. A plurality of cross bars 28 are providedwith ring members 30 through which guide bars 32 extend. Machines 2 and4 are supported at their forward ends by leveling members 34, each ofwhich has a foot 36 resting on one of the lower beds 24. Each of thesewing machines 2 and 4 is also provided with a ring guide member 38through which needles 40 move up and down.

The material to be sewed together is held in place on a workplate 42 bya clamping arrangement best shown in FIGURES 4 through 6. My improvedsewing apparatus could be utilized to sew any variety of stitch patternsin materials of various sizes and shapes. For purposes of illustration,I have shown a top plate 42 and associated clamping mechanism designedto hold the materials from which a shoulder pad is basted together. Forthis purpose, I have provided a clamping arrangement comprised of aspring wire pad holder 44 which is pivotally mounted for downwardclamping action on an arm 46. The rear end of wire holder 44 is held inplace in mounting head 48 of arm 46 by set screw 50. Arm 46 is pivotallysecured to block 54 by pin 52 extending therethrough. Also secured tothe forward end of arm 46 are two angularly extending support bars 56which carry a plurality of pad holding fingers 58. Arm 46 is actuateddownwardly in order to bring L-shaped fingers 58 and wire clamp 44against the shoulder pad 60 by means of a pneumatic motor 62. Motor 62is comprised of the conventional arrangement of an air cylinder 64 inwhich a piston not shown, reciprocates so as to actuate a connecting rod66 secured to arm 46 by means of clamping plate 68. Cylinder 64 ismounted on upright portion 70 of a bracket 72 secured to top plate 42.Air is supplied to cylinder 64 through a conduit 74 by means of acontrol arrangement discussed below. When arm 46 is pivoted downwardlyby the action of pneumatically actuated connecting rod 66, it carriesspring wire holder 44 and fingers 58 downwardly with it to a positionwhere they firmly hold pad 60 against top plate 42. Screw 76 held in nut78 at the forward end of wire clamp 44 may be adjusted downwardly inorder to bear firmly against the forward end of pad 60.

In order to sew stitches in the desired patterns in pad material 60, Ihave provided a cam and cam follower mechanism arranged for shiftablemovement along a path angularly disposed with respect to the directionof movement of sewing machines 2 and 4. With reference to FIGURES 2 and7, the cam mechanism is comprised of a cam member 78 mounted on ahorizontally disposed cam plate 80. The assembly of cam 78 and cam plate80 is supported on a bed 82 slidably mounted in runners 84. Runners 84are supported in horizontal alignment from the underside of table 1 bymeans of downwardly extending bracket arms 86. Each of the slidablymounted sewing machine bed plates 24 is provided with a cam follower 88mounted at its forward end adjacent one of the opposite sides of cammember 78. In order that the desired stitch pattern may be sewn in padmaterial 60, top plate 42 on Which pad 60 is held in place is secured tocam 78 for sliding movement therewith. This is accomplished by means ofupright plate member 90 which is secured at its lower end to cam 78 andfastened along its upper face to top plate 42 by means of screws 92, asis indicated in FIGURES 6 and 4.

The assembly of cam 78, plate 90 and top plate 42 with the work material60 held thereon is moved along a predetermined desired path by means ofconnecting rod 94 fastened to the bottom of slidably mounted bed 82.Connecting rod 94 may be motivated by any type of prime mover. I havefound it convenient to use an air motor 96 shown connected to rod 94 inFIGURE 1. Sewing machines 2 and 4 could be arranged to move along anyangular path with respect to the direction of movement of cam 78. Forpurposes of manufacturing convenience, I have designed the slidingmechanism for machines 2 and 4 so that they move along a linesubstantially normal to the line of movement of cam 78 as shown inFIGURE 1.

The particular type of cam design which I have chosen to use isillustrated in FIGURE 10. Although cam 78 could be comprised of twoseparate cam members, I have chosen to utilize a single cam memberhaving separate contoured surfaces for each of the sewing machines 2 and4. In order to provide the proper stitch pattern for securing shoulderpad material 60 together, I have designed a cam 78 with a first set ofinner-undulating surfaces 98 and a second set of outer surfaces 100,having first outwardly extending portions 102 and second inwardlydirected portions 104. Oppositely disposed inner and outer cam surfaces98 and 100 are shown as having identical contours for purposeshereinafter explained. However, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that the surfaces on the opposite sides of cam 78 could be madewith different contours in order to operate the sewing machines in sucha way that they form stitches in different patterns.

A portion of outwardly and inwardly extending surfaces 102 and 104 arecomprised of pivotally mounted fingers 106 and 108. These fingersperform a very important function with respect to the movement of camfollowers 88 as is best explained with reference to both FIGURES 4 and10. At the beginning of the sewing operation, machines 2 and 4 arebiased toward the central, head to head position of FIGURE 2 by spring18. At this time, central line 110 of machines 2 and 4 and cam followers88 mounted thereon will be in the positions indicated in solid lines inFIGURE 10, with respect t cam members 78. As cam 78 is retracted byconnecting rod 94 in the direction indicated by the solid arrow inFIGURE 1, cam followers 88 move first along outwardly extending surfaces102 carrying machines 2 and 4 outwardly with them towards the positionindicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 1. As cam 78 continues to move inthe same direction, cam followers 88 will subsequently move inwardlyover surfaces 104, this first, entire outer path of cam followers 88being indicated by circled letters a in FIGURE 4. When cams 88 reach theinner end of inwardly extending portions 104, cam 78 and top plate 42secured thereto will have been moved to the right of the central,phantom line position in which plate 42 is shown in FIGURE 1 to theposition in which plate 42 is shown in solid lines. Cam 78 is thenreciprocated in the opposite direction indicated by the dotted linearrow in FIGURE 1. When cam 78 starts in this opposite direction, camfollowers 88 move over inner surfaces 98, and as they start to do sothey bear against the inner ends 105 of fingers 106, thereby pivotingsaid fingers outwardly so as to permit cams 88 to continue moving overthe entire contour of inner surfaces 98 along the path indicated bycircled letters b. When cam 78 nears the opposite end of its line oftravel, cam followers 88 will have traversed the entirety of inner,undulating surfaces 98 and will be in the position indicated by phantomlines in FIGURE 10. As cam 78 then continues to move in the directionindicated by the dotted arrow in FIGURE 1, cam followers 88 will moveagainst the inner end of pivotally mounted fingers 108 and will causethese fingers to move outwardly against biasing springs 112, in themanner indicated in FIGURE 10. Continued movement of cam 78 will causecam followers 88 to move on by fingers 188 to the initial, solid linestart position shown in FIGURE as cam 78 terminates its movement in theopposite direction. Biasing springs 112 will then return fingers 108 totheir normal closed position shown in FIGURE 4 so as to permit camfollowers 88 to move over the outer surface thereof as cam 78 begins tomove at the beginning of another sewing operation.

It is to be noted with respect to FIGURE 10, that top plate 42 has twospaced apart openings 41 and 43 therein which conform generally to theshape of inner and outer cam surfaces 98 and 100. This permits sewingmachine needles 40 to reciprocate downwardly through top plate 42 andpadding material 68 as cam followers 88 and cam 78 move relative to eachother in the manner indicated in FIGURE 4.

Sewing machines 2 and 4 could be operated continuously as cam followers88 traverse inner and outer contours 98 and 100, thereby sewingcontinuous stitches in the patterns traced by the moving followers.However, when sewing material such as shoulder pads 60 the normalprocedure is to sew long, loose stitches in a basting operation. Forthis purpose, some means must be provided to intermittently actuatedsewing machine needles 40 in synchronization with the movement of cam 78and cam followers 88 in order to dro stitches as cam followers 88 reachpredetermined, spaced points along cam surfaces 98 and 100. For thispurpose, I have designed a control system best shown in FIGURE 1. Clutchmeans in the form of two separate, one-revolution clutches 114 and 115are provided to intermittently supply operating power to machine driveshafts 9. Clutches 114 and 115 are periodically engaged by pneumaticmotors 116, the particular mechanism employed to actuate the clutches bypneumatic motors 116 being shown in FIGURES 2 and 11. A stub pin 118 onthe end of each clutch 114 and 115 is intermittently caught and releasedby arm 19 which is mounted for pivotal actuation by bar 117 connected tothe piston of each pneumatic motor 116. High pressure air at a pressureof approximately 160 p.s.i. is supplied to pneumatic motors 116 as wellas to cam plate motor 96 by an air compressor 120. The operation ofmotor-driven air compressor 120 is controlled by switch 122 located in apower line lead to a 110 volt, alternating current supply source 124.Sewing machine drive motors 6 are also connected to power supply 124,the operation of motors 6 being controlled by main control switch 126.

Pressurized air from compressor 120 is directed through a main supplyline 128 having a manual control valve 130 and filter 132 therein tobranch lines 134 and 136 in which pressure regulating valves 138 areinstalled. The flow of air from branch line 134 to clamp actuating airmotor 62 and clutch air motors 116 is controlled by foot switch 140 andsolenoid valve 142 located in air lines 144 and 146, respectively. Whensolenoid valve 142 is energized to an open position, it permitspressurized air to flow through lines 143 and 145 to clutch air motors116. Double acting solenoid valve 148 located in branch line 136controls the flow of pressurized air through lines 150 and 152 to camplate drive motor 96 in such a way as to impart a reciprocating motion(not shown) contained therein.

In order to control solenoid valves 148 and 142 and thereby theintermittent actuation of clutches 114 and as well as the reciprocationof pneumatic motor 96, I have employed a switch arrangement responsiveto the movement of cam 78. The switch arrangement includes a pair ofone-way microswitches 154 and 156 which are disposed above a slidingswitch plate 152 having two rows of contact points 160 and 161 thereon.Switch plate 152 is connected to slidably mounted cam bed plate 82 byrod 162 for actuation thereby. Switch plate 152 is slidably mounted inrunners 164 as is shown in FIG- URE 3. Microswitch 154 is arranged sothat it is closed to complete a circuit to solenoid valve 142 as contactpoints 160 are moved against it when cam 78 is retracted in thedirection indicated by the solid arrow in FIG- URE 1. In a similarmanner, one-way microswitch 156 is arranged to complete a circuit tosolenoid valve 142 as it is contacted by points 161 when cam 78 andswitch plate 152 are reciprocated in the direction indicated by thedotted arrow in FIGURE 1.

To cycle sewing machines 2 and 4, switch 14 is first closed so as tostart air compressor and create a supply of pressurized air in thepneumatic system. Motor switch 126 is then closed to render the sewingmachines 2 and 4 ready for operation; however, clutches 114 and 115 arestill disengaged at this time. The pressure in the air supply systemwill cause pad holder support bar 56 and wire clamp 44 to be in adownward position against to plate 42. By actuating foot switch air isbled from pneumatic motor 62 through line 44 and a bleed outlet 141 onswitch 140. This allows an internal spring within air cylinder 64 tomove the piston therein upwardly so as to raise connecting rod 66 andthe clamping mechanism connected thereto. An assembly of shoulder padmaterial 60 is then placed on top plate 42, and foot switch 140 isreleased causing pressure to again build up in cylinder 64 wherebyconnecting rod 66 is moved downwardly so as to bring arm 46 and theclamping apparatus secured thereto firmly down against the top of padassembly 60. Control switch 125 is then closed causing the energizationof double acting solenoid valve 148 to a position wherein air issupplied through line so as to retract connecting rod and cam bed plate82 secured thereto in the direction of the solid arrow in FIGURE 1. Thiscauses cam followers 88 to move over outer cam surface 100 in the mannerindicated above. At the same time, contact points intermittently actuatemicroswich 154 which in turn energizes solenoid valve 142 at spacedintervals. Pressurized air is thus supplied through lines 143 and 145intermittently to air motors 116 so as to cause the intermittentengagement of clutches 114 and 115. Sewing machine needles 40 are thusdriven at spaced intervals controlled by the spacing and movement ofcontact points 160. Contact points 160 are spaced so that stitches aretaken as cam followers 88 reach predetermined spaced points along outercam surface 100. When cam bed plate 82 reaches the end of its line oftravel in the rearward direction, switch arm 168 carried on switch plate152 contacts microswitch 166 connected to solenoid valve 148. Solenoidvalve 148 is thus actuated to a second position in which it suppliespressurized air through line 152 so as to move connecting rod 94 in theopposite direction. As cam 78 and top plate 42 connected thereto move inthe opposite direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIGURE 1, camfollowers 88 move over the inner surfaces 98 of cam 78 through thepositions indicated by letter b in FIGURE 4. Contact points 161 nowserve to actuate microswitch 156 and solenoid valve 142 so as tointermittently energize clutches 116. Inner stitches are basted in placeat spaced intervals determined by the spacing of contact points 161.Since needles 40 are in vertical alignment with cam followers 88, theyfollow the same path traced by the cam followers. Inner and outer stitchpatterns are thus formed conforming to the configuration of inner andouter cam surfaces 98 and 100. As indicated above, contacts 160 and 161are spaced so as to cause the actuation of sewing machine needles 40 ascam 78 and cam followers 88 moving thereon reach predetermined spacedpoints along their paths of travel. The intermittent actuation of clutchair motors 116 causes pivotal arm 119 connected thereto to release andengage stub pin 118 on clutches 114 and 115 at such intervals that theclutches complete only one revolution at a time.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a kicker arm is provided on the head 16 ofboth machines 2 and 4 to release the tension on thread 17 after eachstitch is taken. Arm 15 is actuated by an internal mechanism (not shown)connected to the drive shaft 9 of each machine.

By mounting machines 2 and 4 for reciprocal motion in head to headalignment, and by designing cam surfaces 98 and 109 on the oppositesides of cam members 78 so that they have identical contours, identicalstitch patterns are formed in a symmetrical design on shoulder padmaterial 60 as is indicated in FIGURE 8. Counter stitch path 103 isformed as cam followers 88 move over outer cam surfaces 100, and innerstitch paths 107 are formed as cam followers 88 move over inner camsurfaces 98. The action of biasing spring 18 serves to move machines 2and 4 back inwardly as cam followers 88 move over inwardly directedportions of cam surfaces 98 and 100.

Each shoulder pad 60 is comprised of top and bottom covering layersconsisting of a coarse fiber top 170 and a gauze bottom 171 as bestshown in FIGURE 9. Two layers of cotton padding 172 are interposedbetween top and bottom layers 170 and 171, and each layer of cottonpadding 172 has a tissue covering layer 174 on the top and bottom facesthereof. After sewing the symmetrical stitch pattern in the shoulder padas shown in FIGURE 8, the pad assembly is cut in half along such a line176 so as to provide two separate shoulder pads of identical shape andstitching.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that my cam actuatedsewing apparatus could be made to operate in different ways by means ofdifferent mechanisms other than those which I have illustrated. Forexample, a mechanical or hydraulic system could be used in place of thepneumatic control system shown to actuate onerevolution clutches 114 and115, as well as cam plate drive motor 96. Also, it would not benecessary to use the specific microswitch arrangement shown tosynchronize the actuation of the sewing machine needles with themovement of the cam and cam followers. The significant feature is theutilization of the movement of cam 78 to trig er the intermittent supplyof operating power to sewing machines 2 and 4 as cam 78 and followers 88reach predetermined spaced points along their lines of travel. In thisway, the actuation of the sewing machines is synchronized with themovement of cam followers 88 so as to baste stitches at desired spacedintervals as the movement of cam 78 brings followers 88 to predeterminedspaced points on its contoured surfaces 98 and 100. Also, any type ofcam contour could be used and the cam 78 could be moved in only onedirection rather than being reciprocated. In such a case, the cam wouldhave only one contoured surface on each side and would be moved in onlyone direction so as to cause a stitching of only one path, as opposed toforming inner and outer stitch paths 103 and 107 as shown in FIGURE 8.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of automatically sewing stitches in a plurality ofseparate patterns on work material by means of a plurality of slidablymounted sewing machines, comprising the steps of:

clamping said work material on a plate connected to cam means formovement therewith, said cam means being contoured to provide thedesired stitch patterns on said work material;

moving said cam means and said work material therewith along a firstpredetermined path;

simultaneously moving said sewing machines along another predeterminedpath disposed angularly with respect to said first predetermined path ofsaid cam means by means of separate cam followers secured to each ofsaid sewing machines, each of said cam followers tracing separatepatterns as they follow separate contoured portions of said cam means;

intermittently actuating the needles of each of said sewing machines atspaced intervals in synchronization with the movement of said cam meansand said sewing machines as said cam followers reach predeterminedspaced points on said separate, contoured portions of said cam means,thereby forming said separate stitch patterns.

2. The method defined in claim 1 and further:

reciprocating said cam means in opposite directions along said firstpredetermined path so as to form a plurality of stitched paths withineach of said separate stitch patterns.

3. The method defined in claim 1 and further:

moving said sewing machines in a reciprocating manner in oppositedirections in head to head, axial alignment.

4. The method defined in claim 3 and further:

moving said separate cam followers over identical paths by means of saidseparate, contoured portions of said moving cam means, whereby saidseparate stitch patterns form a symmetrical design in said workmaterial.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

said needles of each of said sewing machines are intermittently actuatedby intermittently supplying operating-power to said sewing machines inresponse to the movement of said cam means as it reaches predetermined,spaced points along said first predetermined path.

6. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a tablewith their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in placeunder the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movementtherewith;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said camfollowers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

drive means for moving said cam means along a first predetermined path,the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to move eachof said sewing machines along second predetermined paths in an angulardirection with respect to said first predetermined path of movement ofsaid cam means;

clutch means for connecting the needle drive shaft of each of saidsewing machines to a power source; and

control means operatively associated with said clutch means, saidcontrol means including actuator apparatus constructed and arranged tointermittently engage said clutch means automatically as said camfollowers reach predetermined, spaced points on said cam means, wherebythe needles of each of said sewing machines are automaticallyreciprocated at spaced intervals so as to jump baste stitches in desiredpatterns conforming to the contour of said cam means.

7. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said actuator apparatus includes trip means operatively connected tosaid cam means so as to be actuated by the sliding movement thereof.

8. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein:

said trip means is in the form of an electric switch mechanism comprisedof a slidably mounted switchplate having a plurality of contact pointsthereon, said switchplate being connected to said cam means for movementtherewith, and pivotally mounted microswitch arm means disposed adjacentsaid switchplate so as to be intermittently energized by said contactpoints as said switchplate is moved with respect thereto.

9. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said control means includes solenoid actuator means adapted to cause theengagement of said clutches, said solenoid actuator means beingconnected to said microswitch arm means in an electrical circuit,whereby the contacting of said microswitch arm means by said movingcontact points intermittently energizes said solenoid actuator means soas to cause the intermittent engaging of said clutches as said cam meansreaches spaced, predetermined points along said first predeterminedpath.

10. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said drive means for moving said cam means, and said actuator apparatusfor engaging said clutches are in the form of pneumatic motors;

and further including solenoid valve means located in air lines leadingto said pneumatic motors; and

electric switch means connected to said solenoid valve means, saidelectric switch means being operatively associated with said cam meansfor actuation thereby.

11. Sewing apparatus comprising:

two motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted in head to headrelationship on a table with their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in placeunder the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movementtherewith, said cam means being comprised of separate, contouredsurfaces arranged in particular patterns on the opposite sides thereof;

drive means for moving said cam means along a first predetermined path,the movement of said cam means causing said cam followers to move eachof said sewing machines along second predetermined paths in an angulardirection with respect to said first predetermined path of movement ofsaid cam means;

a spring member biasing said sewing machines towards a central, head tohead position; and

wherein each of said contoured surfaces on opposite sides of said cammeans includes undulating portions, the movement of said cam meanscausing each of said cam followers and said sewing machines connectedthereto to move outwardly away from said central position to the outerextremity of said undulating portions, and said spring member causingeach of said sewing machines to move back inwardly towards said centralposition as each of said cam followers moves over an inwardly directedsurface of said undulating portions.

12. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a tablewith their longitudinal axes in alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in placeunder the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movementtherewith;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said camfollowers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

reversible drive means for imparting reciprocating movement to said cammeans along a first predetermined path, the movement of said cam meanscausing said cam followers to move each of said sewing machines alongsecond predetermined paths in an angular direction with respect to saidfirst predetermined path of movement of said cam means; and

wherein said cam means is comprised of separate, contoured surfaces,each of which has a first, inner contour and a second, contour locatedoutwardly therefrom with respect to the center of said cam means, thereciprocating motion of said cam means in opposite directions causingeach of said cam followers to move first along one of said contours andthen along the other one of said contours.

13. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 12, and further including:

pivotally mounted fingers which form a part of each of said second outercontours;

spring means biasing each of said fingers towards a normal position solocated with respect to said first, inner contours that each of said camfollowers push one of said fingers aside when said followers move overone end of said inner contours as said cam means is moved in onedirection, each of said fingers then returning to said normal positionby the action of said spring means, whereby said cam followers areforced to move over said second, outer contours as said cam means isreciprocated in the opposite direction.

14. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of motor driven sewing machines slidably mounted on a tablein head to head alignment;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in placeunder the heads of said sewing machines;

shiftably mounted cam means secured to said plate means for movementtherewith along a predetermined linear path extending substantiallytransversely to the longitudinal axes of said sewing machines;

a cam follower on each of said sewing machines, each of said camfollowers being disposed adjacent different surfaces of said cam means;

drive means connected to said cam means for moving said cam means alongsaid predetermined path, the movement of said cam means causing said camfollowers to reciprocate each of said sewing machines in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said path of said cam means.

15. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 14, and further including:

a spring member biasing said sewing machines towards a central, head tohead position, the movement of said cam means causing each of said camfollowers and said sewing machines connected thereto to move outwardlyaway from said central position, and said spring member serving toreciprocate each of said sewing machines back inwardly towards saidcentral position as each of said cam followers moves over an inwardlydirected surface of said cam means.

16. Sewing apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein:

each of said sewing machines includes a reciprocating threaded needlelocated in vertical alignment with one of said cam followers, wherebyeach of said reciprocating needles of said sewing machines sews stitchesin desired patterns conforming to the contour of said cam means as saidcam means moves along said first predetermined path.

17. Sewing apparatus comprising:

a motor driven sewing machine slidably mounted on a table for linearmovement;

plate means on which material to be sewed together is held in placeunder the head of said sewing machine;

slidably mounted cam means' secured to said plate means for movementtherewith;

a cam follower on said sewing machine, said cam follower being disposedadjacent the peripheral surface of said cam means;

a drive mechanism connected to said cam means for moving said cam meansalong a first predetermined linear path, the movement of said cam meanscausing l I 1 2 said cam follower to move said sewing machine alongFOREIGN PATENTS a second predetermined linear path disposed at an 5 ,3168/1967 G a angle with respect to sald first predetermined path. 7 arm myI ES R. B LE ,P E References Cited 5 AM 0 R rlmary xamlner UNITED STATESPATENTS US. Cl. X.R. 1,669,785 5/1928 Schmitt. 112-255 1,883,177 10/1932Weis 112-155 XR 2,345,104 3/ 1944 Dittrich.

